Last week, two things converged. The world's largest oncology conference brought thousands of researchers to Chicago. And Nature published an article declaring lung cancer in women a distinct disease. The timing was not coincidental.

Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute and UCL have identified 14 proteins in blood that can predict lung cancer more than five years before diagnosis. The research, published in Cell on 4 June 2026, also points toward a prevention strategy. Here is what it found and why it matters for people affected by lung cancer across Europe.

Tobacco is the single largest preventable cause of lung cancer in Europe. But lung cancer can affect anyone, including people who have never smoked. On World No Tobacco Day 2026, Lung Cancer Europe calls for stronger EU tobacco regulation to protect young people from targeted marketing, and compassionate support for people who want to quit.

A new paper in The Journal of Clinical Investigation reports higher rates of lung cancer in plastic and rubber manufacturing workers. It also confirms that micro- and nanoplastics have been found in human lungs.